A display device includes a pixel disposed in a display area; a first line electrically connected to the pixel; and a first control line disposed around the first line. The pixel includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from each other; at least one intermediate electrode including a first intermediate electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; light emitting elements electrically connected between a pair of adjacent electrodes among the first electrode, the second electrode, and the at least one intermediate electrode; and a first switching element electrically connected between the first intermediate electrode and the first line, the first switching element being controlled by a signal applied to the first control line.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A display device comprising: a pixel disposed in a display area; a first line electrically connected to the pixel; and a first control line disposed around the first line, wherein the pixel comprises: a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from each other; at least one intermediate electrode including a first intermediate electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; light emitting elements electrically connected between a pair of adjacent electrodes, the light emitting elements including first light emitting elements electrically connected directly between the at least one intermediate electrode and the first electrode and second light emitting elements electrically connected directly between the at least one intermediate electrode and the second electrode; and a first switching element electrically connected between the first intermediate electrode and the first line, the first switching element being controlled by a signal applied to the first control line.
2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first switching element comprises a first active layer overlapping the first control line and electrically connected between the first intermediate electrode and the first line.
3. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a second line spaced apart from the first line, wherein the at least one intermediate electrode includes a second intermediate electrode disposed between the first electrode and the first intermediate electrode, and the pixel comprises a second switching element electrically connected between the second intermediate electrode and the second line.
4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the second line is disposed around the first control line, and the second switching element comprises a second active layer overlapping the first control line and electrically connected between the second intermediate electrode and the second line.
5. The display device according to claim 3, further comprising a second control line disposed around the second line, wherein the second switching element comprises a second active layer partially overlapping the second control line and electrically connected between the second intermediate electrode and the second line.
6. The display device according to claim 5, wherein the first line and the first control line are adjacent to first ends of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the at least one intermediate electrode, and the second line and the second control line are adjacent to second ends of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the at least one intermediate electrode.
7. The display device according to claim 3, further comprising a third line spaced apart from the first line and the second line, wherein the pixel comprises a third switching element electrically connected between the first electrode and the third line, the third switching element being turned on simultaneously with the first switching element.
8. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a second line spaced apart from the first line, wherein the pixel comprises a second switching element electrically connected between the first electrode and the second line.
9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the pixel comprises a third switching element electrically connected between the first electrode and the second electrode, the third switching element being turned on simultaneously with the first switching element.
10. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode, the at least one intermediate electrode, and the second electrode are disposed successively in a first direction in an emission area of the pixel.
11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the first line and the first control line are adjacent to first ends of the first electrode, the at least one intermediate electrode, and the second electrode, and the first line and the first control line each extend in the first direction and is commonly electrically connected to pixels in a horizontal line including the pixel.
12. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display area includes pixels each disposed in horizontal lines, and a first instance of the first line and a first instance of the first control line that are electrically connected to pixels in any one horizontal line of the horizontal lines are disposed opposite to a second instance of the first line and a second instance of the first control line that are electrically connected to pixels in a subsequent horizontal line, with the pixels in the any one horizontal line of the horizontal lines and the pixels in the subsequent horizontal line of the horizontal lines interposed therebetween.
13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein first switching elements included in the pixels in the any one horizontal line of the horizontal lines and first switching elements included in the pixels in the subsequent horizontal line have symmetrical shapes.
14. The display device according to claim 12, wherein first electrodes, second electrodes, and intermediate electrodes that are included in the pixels in the any one horizontal line of the horizontal lines, and first electrodes, second electrodes, and intermediate electrodes that are included in the pixels of the subsequent horizontal line of the horizontal lines have symmetrical shapes.
15. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected to a first power source and a second power source, respectively, and the at least one intermediate electrode is electrically connected between the first electrode and the second electrode through the light emitting elements.
16. The display device according to claim 15, wherein the pixel comprises a pixel circuit electrically connected between the first power source and the first electrode, and the display area comprises: a circuit layer including circuit elements of the pixel circuit; and a display layer that overlaps the circuit layer, and in which the first electrode, the second electrode, the at least one intermediate electrode, and the light emitting elements are disposed.
17. The display device according to claim 16, wherein the circuit layer comprises at least one of a first power line electrically connected to the first power source, a second power line electrically connected to the second power source, an active layer of the first switching element, the first line, and the first control line.
18. The display device according to claim 16, wherein the display layer comprises at least one of the first line and the first control line.
19. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the pixel comprises at least one of: bank patterns respectively disposed below the first electrode, the second electrode, and the at least one intermediate electrode; and contact electrodes respectively disposed over the first electrode, the second electrode, and the at least one intermediate electrode.
20. A method of fabricating a display device comprising: forming a switching element, an alignment line, and electrodes; supplying light emitting elements to an emission area of a pixel among pixels; aligning the light emitting elements between the electrodes by driving the switching element and supplying respective alignment signals to the electrodes; and electrically connecting the light emitting elements between the electrodes.
21. The display device according to claim 1, wherein each light-emitting has an elongated shape and includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the first and second semiconductor layers, and each light-emitting has an insulating film formed at the surface of the light emitting element to enclose an outer circumferential surface of at least the active layer.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 10, 2020
April 29, 2025
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.